national
Census Bureau Reports Record Median Household Income of $87,460 for 2025
Just the facts
The Census Bureau reported that real median household income in the United States rose to a record $87,460 in 2025, surpassing the previous inflation-adjusted peak of $85,320 established in 2019 by approximately 2.5 percent. The official national poverty rate declined by 0.5 percentage points to 10.2 percent, while the top 10 percent of income earners saw their median earnings increase by 1.7 percent to $261,300. Women working full-time experienced a 3.2 percent increase in annual earnings, narrowing the gender wage gap as women earned nearly 84 cents for every dollar earned by men, up from under 81 cents in 2024. Economic researchers noted that the figures reflect the initial income and corporate tax provisions enacted under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act signed in July 2025, while the impacts of 2026 reductions to Medicaid and food assistance enrollment will appear in subsequent reports.
Why this is news
The United States Census Bureau released its annual report on national income, poverty, and health insurance coverage for 2025 on Tuesday. The release provides the official federal benchmark evaluating real household earnings and income distribution across the country.
Sources
This summary is compiled strictly from the original reporting below.